Pope Francis

Pope Leo XIV, the first American to ascend to the papacy, formally inaugurated his pontificate on Sunday with a solemn Mass in St Peter’s Square.

In his first homily as pontiff, he called for unity within the Catholic Church and expressed his intention for it to be a global sign of peace, addressing a crowd that included world leaders, royalty, and tens of thousands of pilgrims.

The 69-year-old Augustinian, born in Chicago, began his tenure by touring the square in the popemobile, smiling and waving to attendees before presiding over the liturgical ceremony. The Mass marked the formal assumption of the papal office and was steeped in ritual, with Pope Leo receiving the two traditional symbols of his authority — the woollen pallium and the fisherman’s ring. Visibly moved, he paused in reflection as the items were presented, clasping his hands in prayer.

The event took place under tight security. Vatican authorities, in cooperation with Rome’s civil protection services, arranged controlled access zones throughout the square and surrounding areas. Giant screens were placed in adjacent piazzas to accommodate the estimated 250,000 attendees. Portable facilities and emergency services were stationed nearby in preparation for the large turnout.

The papal inauguration drew high-profile delegations from across the globe. The United States was represented by Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, both of whom paid respects at the tomb of Pope Francis, who died in April following a 12-year pontificate. Among the most closely watched attendees was Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whose presence underscored the Vatican’s continued relevance as a forum for global diplomacy amid ongoing conflict in Eastern Europe.

In his homily, Pope Leo presented the central theme of his papacy as one of love and unity, grounded in service and mission. “I would like that our first great desire be for a united Church, a sign of unity and communion, which becomes a leaven for a reconciled world,” he said. He acknowledged global challenges including violence, prejudice, and inequality, adding, “We still see too much discord, too many wounds caused by hatred, violence, prejudice, the fear of difference, and an economic paradigm that exploits the Earth’s resources and marginalises the poorest.”

The emphasis on unity is widely interpreted as an early indication of his approach to internal Church divisions. His predecessor, Pope Francis, had at times divided opinion among Catholics due to his vocal opposition to economic inequality and his openness to reform. Pope Leo’s election by the College of Cardinals on 8 May, following a notably swift 24-hour conclave, is thought to reflect a preference for a figure more aligned with traditional doctrine and ecclesial discipline.

The inaugural Mass featured the rite of obedience, performed by representatives of different categories within the Church — clergy, religious, married couples, and young people — symbolising the universal nature of the Catholic community.

Pope Leo also reiterated a desire for the Church to be outward-facing and missionary in nature. “Let us build a Church founded on God’s love, a sign of unity, a missionary Church that opens its arms to the world, proclaims the word, allows itself to be made restless by history, and becomes a leaven of harmony for humanity,” he said, echoing themes from his predecessor’s tenure.

Protocol dictated formal arrangements during the ceremony, with U.S. and Peruvian delegates seated prominently, in acknowledgement of the pope’s dual citizenship. Among royalty attending, Queen Letizia of Spain and Princess Charlene of Monaco were present, dressed in white in accordance with the Catholic tradition granting this privilege to Catholic queens. Delegations from thirty-six Christian churches and religious communities were also in attendance, alongside representatives of the Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, Sikh, Jain and Zoroastrian faiths.

The ceremony’s symbolic core — the imposition of the pallium and the presentation of the fisherman’s ring — underscored the dual dimensions of the papacy: pastoral responsibility and apostolic continuity. The ring, a historic reference to St Peter’s vocation as a fisherman, now serves as Pope Leo’s official seal.

Pope Leo XIV assumes the papacy at a time of significant global and ecclesiastical complexity. His emphasis on unity signals an intent to transcend internal divisions within the Church and to reassert its moral and spiritual authority on the international stage.

As the pontificate of Pope Leo XIV begins, attention now turns to how his leadership will shape the future direction of the Roman Catholic Church — both internally, in matters of doctrine and discipline, and externally, in its engagement with a fractured and uncertain world.